Arlington parent to be charged with threatening principal

An Arlington man whose gun license and hunting rifle were seized by police earlier this week will be charged with threatening Stratton Elementary Principal Michael Hanna, police said Tuesday.

Police say Robert Goodwin Jr., 40, of Ryder Street pulled out his gun license during an argument Wednesday, June 4, with Stratton Principal Michael Hanna. Goodwin also referenced he had access to firearms, according to police.

Goodwin faces a misdemeanor charge of making verbal threats to commit assault and is set to attend a probable cause hearing before a clerk magistrate next week, police said. He will be summonsed to Cambridge District Court in Medford.

“The Arlington Police Department takes very seriously any threats made on school grounds or against school officials. This philosophy applies at all times, even when the school day is over,” Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan said in a statement. “In this day and age, we cannot ignore any threat.”

Previously, police seized Goodwin’s gun license and a hunting rifle from his apartment and served him an order not to trespass at the elementary school, where his child is a student.

Editors note: This story was edited at 6:15 p.m. to reflect that Goodwin has not yet been charged.